She's On The Money

Imagine spending your entire life working towards your dream career, only to have your health take it all away. At 35, this week’s Money Diarist has been through more than most people could imagine. After developing debilitating chronic illnesses, she was forced to leave her dream job as a scientist, became bedbound and financially dependent on her partner, only to discover he’d been cheating on her for four years. She lost her home, her relationship and the independence she’d worked so hard for, all while fighting a four-year battle for her income protection and TPD insurance claims. But her story doesn’t end there. Today, she’s mortgage-free, owns her own home, runs her own business and is slowly reclaiming the life she thought she’d lost. We’re talking about the financial reality of chronic illness, why personal insurance matters so much and what rebuilding your life can actually look like when everything falls apart. This one is heartbreaking, hopeful and such an important reminder that financial…

Apparently, saving for a house deposit now means saying goodbye to dinners with your friends, takeaway and basically anything that makes your twenties fun. But does it actually have to be that way? This week, we're helping a 29-year-old who's earning a decent salary, living alone and feeling like she's doing everything wrong with money. Between rent, groceries and trying to maintain a social life, there's barely anything left to save. She's tried being incredibly strict with her budget, but ended up miserable and giving up altogether. So how do you save for your future without feeling like you're sacrificing your entire present? Plus, with everyone talking about the AI bubble, one listener wants to know whether her superannuation could be caught up in the hype. Could an AI crash affect her retirement savings? And can you actually choose to keep AI investments out of your super? And because it's our Halloween Friday Drinks, we're also getting a little spooky. We're debating which of us would make the worst…

What if I told you that you could be missing out on thousands of dollars a year, simply because nobody explained a benefit you were already entitled to? And no, I'm not talking about getting a pay rise. We're talking salary packaging. And if you work in healthcare, education or the not-for-profit sector, this is one money conversation you really don't want to miss. Because while you're busy working hard, paying your bills and wondering how to make your money stretch a little further, there could be some pretty generous tax concessions sitting right under your nose. We're talking potential savings on everyday expenses like your rent, mortgage, bills and even meals out. Things you're probably already paying for anyway. So why aren't more people taking advantage of them? We're breaking down how salary packaging actually works, who's eligible, the benefits you might be overlooking and the little catches you need to know about before signing up. Plus, how to get started without needing a finance degree or…

Imagine buying your dream blueberry farm (!!!), finally getting your life exactly where you want it, and then having absolutely everything go wrong. This week's Money Diarist thought she was just exhausted from juggling her career and their first harvest. Turns out, she needed four emergency brain surgeries. And just when she was finally getting back on her feet, a lithium battery caught fire and destroyed their garage, nearly taking their entire home with it. All within the space of a year. Thankfully, she'd done something a lot of us put off: she had insurance. We're talking about the $45,000 she received through income protection and trauma cover, the $50,000 contents payout, a garage rebuild estimated at $250,000 to $300,000, and why even having insurance doesn't necessarily mean getting the payout you think you deserve. It's a pretty extraordinary story about surviving the unexpected, protecting everything you've worked for and realising that sometimes the future you're saving so hard for isn't…

Haaapppyyyy Friday friends! Imagine spending years saving $110,000 for your first home, only to realise you and your partner have completely different ideas about what that home should look like. One wants a bigger house further out, the other wants a smaller place in a suburb they actually love. And suddenly, saving the deposit feels like the easy part. This week, we're tackling the property dilemma so many first-home buyers face. Do you prioritise location, lifestyle or space? Is rentvesting the answer? And does your first home really need to be your forever home? Plus, one community member is navigating life with a new baby and a partner who's a sole trader, which means money comes in whenever clients decide to pay their invoices. Not exactly ideal when you're trying to budget. We're sharing practical ways to manage an irregular income, build a financial buffer and make your money feel a little more predictable. And because it's Friday Drinks, we're also celebrating some seriously good Money Wins, sharing…

Could you really have a baby in Australia for less than $3,000? According to two mums in our She's on the Money community, absolutely. And they've brought the receipts to prove it! After previously unpacking the costs of having a baby through the private healthcare system, we're flipping the conversation to something that deserves a whole lot more love: Australia's public maternity system. This week, we're getting nosy with two gorgeous community members, Hannah from Melbourne and Erin from Perth, who are sharing exactly what they spent throughout their pregnancies and births. We're talking every ultrasound, appointment, pregnancy supplement, physio visit and even those sneaky hospital parking fees. But this episode isn't just about the money. Both mums had incredibly positive experiences with Australia's public healthcare system, from the continuity of care offered by midwife-led programs to the incredible support they received during pregnancy, birth and beyond. And their stories are a pretty wonderful…

At 38, she was raising a seriously unwell daughter, escaping a financially abusive relationship and using a credit card to pay a mortgage she couldn't afford. At 56? She owns her home outright, has $670,000 invested and works four days a week because she can. So how on earth did she turn things around? This week's Money Diarist shares what it really looks like to start again when everything you've worked for falls apart. From navigating financial abuse and a messy separation to rebuilding her confidence, finding love again and creating genuine financial independence, her story is proof that your life doesn't have to go according to plan to turn out pretty spectacularly. We talk about the importance of having money that's yours, why leaving is only the first step and how small financial decisions can change everything over time. Because if you've ever felt like you're falling behind or should have your life sorted by now, this one's for you. Turns out, starting again doesn't mean starting from scratch…

Being the financially responsible sibling is great. Until everyone starts assuming you'll be the one footing the bill for Mum and Dad. This week, we're getting into a family money dilemma that's probably going to ruffle a few feathers. One community member has spent years building her savings, while her siblings have been spending theirs. Now their parents are getting older, and she's worried being the sensible one means she'll automatically be expected to contribute more. Is that fair? And how do you have that conversation without starting a family war? Plus, a 22-year-old business owner wants to build her property empire and is wondering whether buying a home through her business could be a clever tax move, or a very expensive mistake. We're unpacking what she needs to consider before jumping in. And because it's Friday Drinks, we're also debating whether wearing socks to bed is an actual crime, celebrating some seriously impressive Money Wins and sharing Broke Tips that might save you a few dollars. Grab…

We're always telling you to invest, invest, invest. But here's a question nobody seems to be answering... when do you actually get to spend the money?! Like, are we just supposed to keep putting our hard-earned cash into ETFs forever? When do the profits hit our bank accounts? And how do people actually use their investments to pay themselves an income without going back to work? This week, Victoria and Bec are getting into the part of investing we don't talk about nearly enough: how you actually make money from your investments, and when you get to enjoy it. From the difference between dividends and capital growth to why Victoria keeps 90% of her portfolio in ETFs, we're unpacking the strategies Australians use to build wealth, the mistakes that could cost you thousands, and why your reason for investing matters just as much as what you're investing in. Plus, we're talking franking credits, the magic of compound interest, whether picking your own stocks is really worth the effort, and the tax advantages of…

She spent almost everything she'd saved travelling around the world, came home with just $1,000 in her bank account and has $74,000 in HECS debt. Oh, and now she wants to buy a house. At 23. You'd probably assume this week's Money Diarist has some questionable money habits. But here's where things get interesting, because she's actually doing a whole lot better than you might think. After years of diligently saving half her income, she decided that travelling, studying in Paris and enjoying her early twenties were worth spending her savings on. And while she wouldn't trade those experiences for anything, there's still that little voice wondering whether she should have put the money towards a house deposit instead. Now she's earning $75,000 as a law graduate, has rebuilt her savings, started investing in ETFs and has around $12,000 eligible through the First Home Super Saver Scheme. She's also about to move out of home for the first time, which means swapping the comfort of living with her parents for $320 a…

Real talk, have you been preparing your Milo wrong? Join Jess and Bec for a special edition of Friday Drinks, where they discuss our community’s best Money Wins, Broke Tips and Question of the Week. That’s right, Victoria’s away so the gang will be taking your ears on a detour from our regular programming to bring you a more laid-back episode. Featuring a DM concerning Buy Now, Pay Later habits and a community dilemma about what sounds like a very expensive hobby, this is proving to be one of our more amusing installments yet. To buy a house or a horse? That is the question. Want to learn more about Revolut and get your $40? – click here! BREAK FREE: Ditch the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) cycle for good. Here’s a blog to give your debt a run for its money. Search ‘BNPL’ at shesonthemoney.com/blog/ DEBT HACKS: Need a hand? Check out our article on avoiding and abolishing debt on the blog. Search ‘abolish debt’ shesonthemoney.com/blog/ YOUR MONEY PERSONALITY: Wanna buy a horse, but aren’t sure if it’s the right…

Be honest. How much do you know about parental leave? Because for many of our listeners, it’s one of those things that you don’t really pay attention to, until you need to. Welcome to a special solo episode of Deep Dive where Victoria takes us through the ins-and-outs of paid parental leave and what you might be entitled to, should you (and a partner) need it. This episode will introduce you to what the current status of Parental Leave Pay is in Australia, who’s responsible for it, and what happens if you’re employed… or self-employed. From describing how much time and money you might be eligible for, to whether your partner has any support throughout this whole process, we’ll unpack the current state of play. Whether you’re planning to have a family, or know someone navigating the process, V explains what entitlements to expect, when you’re expecting. And what to ask your employer should you need more support. DOWNLOAD OUR BABY BUDGET: Figuring out the costs of having a baby? Grab a free copy of our baby…

She became a mum straight out of Year 12. Four years later, she had her second son and was raising two boys on her own. Money was tight. Really tight. She used to keep a Word document mapping out six weeks of expenses because she needed to know exactly what was coming in and exactly what had to go out. Some weeks, once the rent was paid, there was food in the cupboard and petrol in the car, she had $20 left. So they got hot chips. They camped in the backyard. Ate breakfast on the trampoline. Had treasure hunts around the house with a bowl of lollies waiting at the end. Years later, she asked her son whether he remembered growing up feeling like they had no money. He said no. He remembered having the best childhood ever. I think that tells you quite a lot about this Money Diarist. Today, at 44, those boys are adults and she’s in a completely different season of her financial life. She runs her own building design business, which turned over $220,000 last financial year. She’s put $50,000 into shares, has hit…

Lovers, we’re in a romance recession! :’[ Join Bec and Jess for a laid-back episode of Friday Drinks, featuring this week’s Money Wins and Broke Tips, plus a romantic Question of the Week (aww cute). While Victoria is away, these microphone mice will play, bringing you some casual yaps concerning community dilemmas and DMs. Starting off, they’ll be discussing a relationship-related dilemma concerning superannuation and permanent residency. Then they’ll be rounding out the ep with a very relatable experience concerning an investing practice. Raise your hand if your share portfolio has ever put you in a state of fight, flight or freeze? Tune in if you want to feel less alone and more prepared for the highs, lows and realities of investing. INVESTING CHEAT SHEET, INCOMING: Grab a copy of our investing cheat sheet over on our website shesonthemoney.com/download-resources. WTF IS COMPOUND INTEREST? Learn all about what folks have described as the eighth world wonder by searching for ‘compound interest’ on the…

Unexpected savings in the bagging area. Tune into this week’s Deep Dive episode to hear how to spend smarter during challenging economic times. Join Bec and Victoria for a juicy episode dedicated to saving money on your grocery shop. Together, they’ll be providing us with some context to explain why things are so expensive RN, and how much things used to cost a decade ago. The gang will also be sharing how our everyday costs are impacted by economic factors like wages, inflation, supply chain disruptions and CPI. Come for actionable tips for saving money at the checkout, stay to finally find out the price of eggs. FAMILY GROCERIES COST HOW MUCH? Check out our article on how much Aussie families are spending on groceries (and how to save) by searching ‘grocery’ on the blog: www.shesonthemoney.com/blog/family-grocery-costs-and-tips AN ENDLESS SOURCE OF MONEY WINS & BROKE TIPS? Say no more. Join the She’s on the Money Facebook Group to tap into the hive mind’s suggestions and thrifty tips at…

At 19, this week’s Money Diarist bought her first home. It was a very unglamorous $135,000 unit that she lovingly describes as looking like a retirement village. But while her friends were buying cars and spending their money elsewhere, she and her then-boyfriend decided property was the priority. And it changed what came next. They travelled. Lived overseas. Came home. Bought their family home. Went through IVF. Had their beautiful son. Survived a redundancy. Spent years with her husband working away while she essentially solo parented. And through all of it, they kept doing something remarkably unsexy but incredibly effective: living below their means. No flashy cars. No keeping up with the Joneses. No consumer debt. Then, at 41, her husband looked at their offset account and realised something. They didn’t owe anything on their mortgage anymore. Now they’re 42, completely debt-free and earning around $265,000 as a household. She owns part of the marketing agency she works in, they travel regularly and…

Riddle me this: why are people pleasers framed as the problem? Surely, we should be turning our focus back onto the boundary-pushers! This week on Friday Drinks, we’re coming in hot. Join Victoria, Jess and Bec to discuss the community’s best Money Wins, Broke Tips, and a Question of the Week that starts off bookish, but quickly gets… wild? You’ll have to hear it to believe it. The gang also covers this week’s community dilemmas concerning Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on your primary residence, and a rather juicy DM from a bride-to-be who wants to know who actually has a say in her wedding plans. Fiscal and familial drama ensues. WEDDING BUDGET: Here’s a link to V’s wedding spreadsheet to help you budget for yours, shesonthemoney.com/download-resources CHAT TO AN EXPERT: The key to making better financial decisions? Surround yourself with experts, like our team of mortgage brokers at Zella. Book at consultation at www.zella.com.au/book-consultation/ MYGOV’S CAPITAL GAINS TAX CALCULATOR: A handy tool that could be…

Credit cards. Personal loans. Buy Now, Pay Later. Australians are in debt in a big way. But, there’s always a way out. This Deep Dive is dedicated to helping you or someone you know eliminate debt and learn how to avoid it for good… and, all on a low income. Join Victoria for a special solo episode to firstly, shed the shame around borrowing money (by learning just how much everyone else has borrowed), then hear how to navigate your way out of debt using proven cashflow and budgeting tactics for low income earners. We’ll cover why people get into debt in the first place, the dark design of repayments, and end on a few examples to demonstrate how you might escape debt for good. Get ready for the bounceback, ‘cause the recovery is real and always within reach. PAY IT DOWN: Here’s a playlist dedicated to the art of paying down debt https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02sw2NObvt18jd0ayvIHn3?si=qOdbgLrBS3STvMzELWiAqg PERVE ON OTHER PEOPLE’S DEBT: Learn how much credit card debt other Aussies actually have by…

At 26, this week’s Money Diarist has nearly $40,000 invested, $46,000 in super and has just bought a six-bedroom home on 25 acres with her mum and younger brother. There are horses. There are stables. There’s a riding arena. Honestly, she’s doing pretty well. But the interesting part of this story isn’t actually how much she’s managed to build. It’s how difficult it still feels to spend any of it. She grew up in a financially comfortable family until her parents separated when she was 10. Her father’s financial abuse left her mum working three jobs to keep life as normal as possible for her children. There were nights when there wasn’t enough money for dinner, but her mum somehow managed to turn those moments into childhood memories of going to friends’ houses for tea. As she got older and realised what had actually been happening, money became safety. Birthday money was hidden away for a rainy day. Unplanned purchases could send her spiralling with anxiety. And even now, with an emergency fund, investments…

Love means adoring someone even if you don’t share the same hobbies (or vaping habits <3). Welcome to another refreshing episode of Friday Drinks. This week, Victoria, Jess and Bec face taboo head-on. Namely, the gang speaks freely about what things they actually believe are overrated. (We’re lookin’ at you, QR codes.) Come for the Broke Tips, stay for the Money Wins, and maybe linger awhile to learn more about risk profiles within the Sharesies platform. Hey, you might just learn something. The crew also answers a dilemma about asking for a pay rise during mat leave. We promise, it’s deeper than that. Tune in if you’ve ever felt some type of way about your replacement earning more than you, even when they’re doing the business a solid. NEGOTIATING YOUR PAY? Here’s a blog that’s all about how to ask for a pay rise. Search ‘pay rise’ at shesonthemoney.com/blog. LEARN MORE ABOUT SHARESIES: Here’s how to find the right risk profile for you on Sharesies https://sharesies.com.au/learn/what-is-risk-anyway. ATTN,…

Earlier this year, SpaceX went public inspiring a suite of headlines and causing a stock market stir. If those words went right over your head, dw Victoria’s here to help break it down for you. Join us for a special solo episode of Deep Dive, where V will walk you through why IPOs are in the media, what they are, and how to do your own research if you’re thinking about buying into one. From the importance of reviewing documentation to what the hell a prospectus is, Victoria explains why the SpaceX IPO is a sign of the times, before the next big announcement shakes-up the investing industry. Tune in if you’re keen to invest in OpenAi and Anthropic, or to simply have an opinion about the folks behind ChatGPT and Claude before their listings hit the watercooler in FY27. INTERESTED IN IPO-CHAT? Tune into earlier episodes covering the topic of Initial Public Offerings, P/B, and P/E ratios over at https://open.spotify.com/episode/4z0bnzFbz4xXeClPiSFkvx?si=T9Cs-QmqSmSqhQJ2lOEEKw…

Growing up, this week’s Money Diarist knew there was no money. She’s a First Nations woman who grew up surrounded by domestic violence, gambling, alcoholism and financial hardship. At nine, she escaped with her mum and brother, quite literally leaving with a backpack and hiding until it was safe to come home. She watched her mum rebuild from absolutely nothing. But while that showed her incredible resilience, it didn’t magically teach her how to manage money. She started working at 14 and spent every dollar she earned. At 19 she became pregnant, at 20 she became a mum, and by 22 she was raising her son alone and studying nursing, determined that life could look different. It wasn’t an overnight transformation. There were years of living paycheck to paycheck, impulsive spending and high-interest loans. Even when she and her now-husband both started earning more, they realised something pretty confronting: more money hadn’t actually changed their financial position. So they changed their habits instead. Now…

What do you mean someone wants to jeopardise your First Home Buyers eligibility without some sort of equity in return?! This week’s Friday Drinks is filled with diabolical dilemmas and chats concerning guarantorships, LMCT petrol stations, and *checks notes* if kids should be Airtagged? Join Victoria, Bec and Jess for car-heavy Broke Tips, Money Wins and a bunch of solid podcast rec’s. True crime, anyone? ASK AN EXPERT: Chat to a professional mortgage broker about your eligibility for various grants, before signing anything. The Zella team is here and ready to help at https://www.zella.com.au/book-consultation/ PETROL SPY: Make like Bec and find the cheapest fuel in your area over here https://petrolspy.com.au/map TRUE CRIME GIRLIES, RISE UP: Seeking another pod to binge? Here are some of the pods V mentioned in this episode Morbid, Two Girls One Ghost, Serialously https://open.spotify.com/show/1cpyLfDHP1cNnyOb478qrt?si=f844f0f9712e4467 https://open.spotify.com/show/4aFNuODLKP1NvhQb7P3Kbn?si=718e11e8703a4b19…

Some of us want to buy a house. Some of us wanna retire early. Some of us want a little more coin on the other side of our retirement. No matter what your financial goals are, here are our very best tips for making $100k by the time you turn 35. Join Victoria and Bec on the Deep Dive couch as they discuss how to tackle this goal in three parts: earning, spending and managing your money. Plus, some things you can do to ensure that there aren’t any leaks in your budget, or in your ongoing income. And if you happen to be on the other side of 35 already, these solid money habits are still worth considering to amplify your wealth in the long run. UNHINGED WAYS TO EARN: Take us back. Tune into Jess and Bec’s episodes on unhinged hacks for saving a little extra coin over here and here, or search Unhinged savings hacks wherever you get your podcasts. BROOKE’S FIRE PLAN: Stream it and see if it might work for you over on our Youtube channel: youtube.com/watch?v=NsuXtMcFLM8 GET THAT BAG: Asking for a pay rise? Here…

At 18, this week’s Money Diarist was approached at work by a man who told her she could make serious money at a club. Plot twist: it was a strip club. She went from earning almost nothing to making hundreds of dollars an hour, and at one point tracked nearly $200,000 in cash earnings over a relatively short period. The problem? She was spending almost as quickly as she could earn it. Then life changed completely. She left the industry, became a mum in her early twenties and went from being fiercely financially independent to relying almost entirely on her partner. When that relationship eventually ended, she realised she had no savings, barely any super, very little career history and, at one point, just $11 to her name.Now 32, remarried with three children, she’s rebuilt things very differently. She earns $120,000 across two jobs, has helped turn her husband’s sole trader business into a company, started her own business, bought land for their future home and completely overhauled the way they manage money.…

Towards, away, or rotisserie-chicken style? It’s Friday Drinks time, and this week the gang are discussing all of the important issues; namely which direction they face in the shower. Join Victoria, Jess and Bec for this week’s best Money Wins, Broke Tips and community dilemmas that you might find particularly useful if you’ve been sleeping on super. Hear from the gang about whether it’s most fruitful to salary sacrifice weekly or monthly and what to do if you find that you’ve got multiple super accounts. Come for the juicy superannuation tips, stay for a continental cucumber redux. CLASS ACTIONS: Read ‘em and weep (happy tears, sad tears, you decide) over at the Fed list of current class actions fedcourt.gov.au/law-and-practice/class-actions/class-actions. SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND… LOST SUPER: The ATO Lost Super Lookup is here to help you be reunited with any lost super. COMPARE YOUR SUPER: Select up to four comparable products to view side-by-side against your current situation over here:…

Chats about super are slipping by the wayside, so we’re running it back for all the baddies who are ready to salary sacrifice for their retirement. On this week’s Deep Dive, Bec and Victoria are discussing the power of your superannuation to completely transform your wealth today (as a lucrative tax vehicle) and well-into the future. The gang explains what superannuation is, how salary sacrificing works, and how you might work your wealth to better support your long-term investments. Tune in to hear about the First Home Super Saver (FHSS), the relevant contribution caps for the current income year FY27 and why your accountant keeps bugging you to make top-up payments to lower your tax bill. SUPERCHARGE YOUR SUPERANNUATION: There’s a playlist to help you do it over at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TDg1Pe0xmTbSlY3lD5p41?si=-ZIwE0GCTD-5MxixtVaaaw. SUPER 101: More of a scroller? Peep this blog on how to get your superannuation sorted. Search superannuation 101 at shesonthemoney.com/blog/. SCHEMIN? But, of…

At 27, this week’s Money Diarist has two STEM degrees, earns $140,000 a year, has $90,000 in super and owns a townhouse two kilometres from the beach. And no, there wasn’t a giant cheque from Mum and Dad hiding somewhere in the background. After becoming financially independent young and spending her uni years juggling study and work, she and her partner made buying a home one of their first big goals after graduating. They used the First Home Super Saver Scheme and First Home Guarantee to buy a $650,000 townhouse with a $40,000 deposit in 2024. Two years later, it’s estimated to be worth around $810,000, their mortgage is down to $575,000 and their extra repayments have already shaved four years off the life of their loan. We talk about exactly how she used the First Home Super Saver Scheme, why they still have a housemate despite earning good money, her $30,000 HECS debt, salary sacrificing into super and the very cute joint account that basically tells her and her partner when they’re overdue for a date…

New intro, who dis? This week’s Friday Drinks is hosted by Victoria Devine, your favourite linen lover Jessica Ricci, and budding ceramicist Bec Syed. During this episode, the gang will be bringing you the very best Money Wins, Broke Tips and polarising opinions of the week. They will be having a heated chat about superior sundae toppings and whether choc mint is ever a welcomed flavour sensation. They’ll also be covering your Money Dilemmas concerning debt, and a mysterious deposit of *checks notes* $10k. Very saucy indeed. And we’re not just talking about the hot fudge in your sundae. Tune in for compelling arguments for putting your Mint Slice in the fridge, and validation for folks with misophonia (specifically an aversion to chewing sounds) but for food wrappers. #strawberrysundaegate PAY IT DOWN, BABY: Debt diminishing episodes delivered straight to your ears over here and at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02sw2NObvt18jd0ayvIHn3 SHOW ME THE MONEY: No rly, show us your coin collection over at our…

Endo. Chronic injury. Mental illness diagnoses. Updates to genetic testing. Let’s talk about it. This episode comes at a time where the NDIS is being wound back for approx. 241,000 Australians. So, what does this mean if you are experiencing chronic illness, permanent injury or disability? And what financial support is in place to help you sustain a decent quality of life when government services are being pared back? During this Deep Dive, we’ve invited friend of the pod, Phil from Skye Wealth to chat about the impact of chronic illness on our personal insurances. From stigma and stereotyping to the upcoming industry shifts that are happening around mental illness, join Victoria and Phil for an illuminating ep on what your options are in the year of our lord 2026. CHAT WITH SKYE: Thanks again to our partners over at Skye Wealth for making this episode possible. If you're ready to chat to a professional about your personal insurance, we have a long standing referral partnership with Skye Wealth. Book your…

Sometimes the biggest financial setbacks have nothing to do with money. After migrating to Australia from Malaysia, she watched her family go from a comfortable life to starting over from scratch. Money wasn't something anyone talked about, especially the women in her family, so when she entered her first serious relationships, she had no idea what financial abuse or manipulation could look like. By 28, she'd lost thousands, moved back in with her parents and felt like she was starting all over again. But instead of staying there, she got curious. She started learning about money, bought her first home on her own, built a share portfolio worth $70,000, grew her super to more than $280,000, and carved out a career as an emergency veterinarian earning up to $250,000 a year. Along the way, she also met a partner who supports her goals instead of holding her back. We chat about financial abuse, rebuilding your confidence after unhealthy relationships, migrating to Australia, buying a home solo, planning for a…

Hypothetically, if you were offered a role abroad that you couldn’t refuse, but you’d finally saved enough for a house deposit, would you stick around and try to enter the property market or further your place in the career department? This week on Friday Drinks, Victoria, Bec and Jess cover all the important topics: career aspirations, home ownership and relationships. We find out where the gang would travel to if they had $2k to drop on a holiday, plus Money Wins and Broke Tips from the community. Tune in if you’re looking for ways to find referral codes on your next purchase… or if you need a good brow gel replacement. HOW TO BUDGET FOR YOUR DREAM TRAVELS: Tune into our playlist to help you plan for your dream trip at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6xbOfw6jTVlqfoAzEzYv6v?si=xq-uwfsqQn2DnVrV0cAL1A WANNA MAKE SOME EXTRA COIN? Did you know that you can earn $ by writing for Medium? Learn over here at medium.com/membership HOW TO: TRAVEL ON A BUDGET: Here are our tips for travelling on a budget, now on the…

Something we hear super often is, “How do I invest now, to prepare for a comfortable retirement later on?”. To which we say, “That depends…” In this week’s Deep Dive, Victoria and Bec unpack what you might need to invest each month to reach $1m by the time you reach retirement. Better than that, they’ll break it down by life stage so that there are relatable and actionable things to consider for you whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond. Rather than simply telling you to earn or save more, or get better at budgeting, the team shares considerations around things like investing habits, superannuation, and salary sacrificing that scale with the characteristics of your assets. Rather than rushing in or feeling left out, this episode is about reframing your approach to investing over a lifetime. GET YOUR FREE INVESTING CHEAT SHEET: It’s yours for the taking over at https://www.shesonthemoney.com/download-resources HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: We’ve compiled a list of some of Australia’s most…

Growing up, her mum believed in spending now and worrying later. Her dad was the complete opposite. He planned ahead, saved where he could, and quietly showed her what financial security could look like. After her parents separated, everything changed. By 14, she'd landed her first job and was handing over every pay cheque, believing it was going straight into savings. It wasn't. When she finally asked for the money back, there was barely anything left. That moment shaped everything that came next. She worked three jobs while studying full-time, bought her first home on her own, met her now husband, and together they've built the life they'd always dreamed of. Today they're raising two little girls in their forever home on acreage, growing their investments and already thinking about the money lessons they'll pass on to the next generation. We chat about growing up between two completely different money mindsets, buying a home solo in your twenties, building wealth as a family, finding a partner who…

Join Victoria and Bec for this week’s edition of Friday Drinks, filled with Broke Tips, Money Wins and a Question of the Week which puts our shower routines in the spotlight. As always, the crew will be answering your Money Dilemmas, this time concerning income-protection insurance and whether a community member is being medically gaslit by their workplace. They also chat about how one listener might invest their inheritance for the best outcome. Hear what it sounds like to be humbled by the community’s grooming habits, and give us crispy shower towels or give us death. CHAT TO SKYE WEALTH: Get a second opinion when it comes to your personal insurances over at www.skye.com.au/shesonthemoney TUNE INTO OUR INSURANCE PLAYLIST: Run it back with episodes dedicated to insurance. Search ‘How to choose the right insurance’ on Spotify. CRAVING MORE FRIDAY DRINKS INSPO? Look no further, we’ve made an entire playlist just for you. Search ‘Friday drinks motivation’ on Spotify. New here? Follow us on Instagram…

In favour of frivolity, we’ve given Victoria a week off from Deep Dive to bring you another acclaimed edition of Q&A with B&J! Bec and Jess are back to answer all of your fun community questions, including what reality TV shows they’d each do well at. (Give Jess the glass cake stand already!) Tune in for a lighthearted episode with your two fave co-hosts covering casual yaps about fave weird flavour combos, things to consider if you’re thinking about leaving your 9-5 and what they’ve learned since working with SOTM. Vote Bec for Big Brother 2027. B&J’s POD CAMEO LIST: Science Vs, Betrayal Weekly, Everyone Has An Ex, Diary of a CEO. BEAN SOUP THEORY: ICYMI, here’s some TikTok lore about the Bean Soupification of the internet and how what-about-me-isms are making the internet homogenous. https://www.tiktok.com/@skylermapes/video/7568181892260941087 LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR? Here’s another ep brought to you by Bec & Jess. Search Building the Dream’ wherever you get your podcasts. SHOUTOUT TO BERNIE’S: Fitzroy North…

This week's Money Diary starts with a sentence I don't think I've ever heard before. "I think I accidentally became rich." Growing up, money was something her family never really talked about. She was raised by a single mum, grew up on Centrelink, won a scholarship to a private school, and didn't realise just how little they had until she was much older. Fast forward to today and she's 34, has more than $100,000 invested, over $218,000 in super, a full year's worth of expenses sitting in her emergency fund, and recently quit her full-time consulting job to work on her own terms. And here's the part I loved most. She bought a house... then decided she actually didn't want one. Instead, she's chosen a life built around flexibility, travel and financial independence, proving that building wealth doesn't have to look the same for everyone. We chat about growing up without financial literacy, becoming obsessed with investing, why she contributes up to $2,000 a week to ETFs while the income is there, turning down…

Which school do you fall into? Karaoke-forward or karaoke-averse? This week on Friday Drinks, Victoria, Bec and Jess are bringing you all the best Broke Tips and Money Wins from our community, plus money dilemmas that tread the investment line. They’ll discuss the pros and cons of lumped contributions versus dollar-cost averaging and whether you can make a relationship work if you’ve got opposing money values. What should we put on our She’s on the Karaoke playlist? CANCEL YOUR SUBS: Another rogue $9.99 charge on your card? Can-it, with our blog to walk you through it all. Search ‘subscriptions’ over at www.shesonthemoney.com/blog INVESTMENT CALCULATOR: Here’s a link to the calculate V mentions on the pod, https://investcalc.github.io/ FREE INVESTMENT CHEAT SHEET: Grab your copy of our investment cheat sheet over here: www.shesonthemoney.com/download-resources New here? Follow us on Instagram (@shesonthemoneyaus) for Q&As, bite-sized advice, daily money inspo... and relatable money memes that just get you.…

What do financial advisers actually do? Am I ready for financial advice? $10k has landed in my account, what do I do?! On this week’s Deep Dive, Victoria invites friend-of-the-pod Daisy Egan, financial adviser with Everest Wealth to answer all of your pressing (and pure unhinged) financial questions. And sure, while some of them are normal and fine and reasonable, others verge on despicable. Come to learn about the largest portfolio size Daisy’s ever managed (Spoiler: there are many zeroes involved). Stay for the spicier q’s including: ‘I’m waiting for my nan to pass away. What things do I need to put in place tax-wise?’, ‘Have you ever told someone that they can’t afford to have a child?’. And ‘What are some sneaky tips to help me financially prepare to leave my husband?’. Nosy parkers, assemble! EVEREST PRIVATE WEALTH: Like what you’ve heard? Reach out to Daisy and the Everest Wealth team to book your consult at everestwealthgroup.com.au/booking INVESTING Q’S? Here’s a blog dedicated to all of the…

This week's Money Diary proves there isn't just one way to build wealth. Growing up in a working-class family, she didn't inherit financial advice, a house deposit or a roadmap. So she made one herself. From 18 to 25, she skipped renting altogether, house-sitting her way across Melbourne, looking after other people's homes and pets while quietly saving every dollar she could. It wasn't glamorous, but it helped her buy her first home on her own in her twenties. Fast forward to today and she's 36, single, earns $177,000 a year, owns a home worth around $1.2 million, has more than $250,000 in super and is slowly building an investment portfolio, all without relying on a partner to get there. We chat about climbing the corporate ladder while completing a master's and PhD, navigating redundancies, why she's still not convinced she deserves an A for her money habits, and the reality of building financial security on your own. It's a conversation about doing things differently, trusting yourself, and remembering…

Just when you think you’ve paid it down, debt has this pesky way of rearing its ugly head. But why? It’s Friday Drinks time, and this week Victoria and Bec are taking on money dilemmas big and small. One community member questions where her tax return is best spent repaying her HECS debt or salary sacrificing into super. While another questions why she keeps finding herself in debt-y situations when she’s never missing a payment. Tune in if you’ve ever wanted to understand the psychology behind debt and how you might finally get on top of things. With Money Wins, Broke Tips, and tools from the team, you’ll be leaving this episode with a spring in your step… and maybe with the Eurythmics in your ear? THERE MUST BE AN ANGEEEEL 🎵If She’s on the Money had a theme song what would it be? Do you have a theme song for every member of the pod? What are our colours?! Share your suggestions in the comments! PAY IT DOWN, BABY: We’ve got a whole playlist dedicated to debt reduction over here and at…

Inflation highs, SpaceX selloffs and IPO rumours. Welcome to our first market update for the new financial year, where Victoria and Bec take a closer look at inflation, its impact on the stock market and what predictions we might have for FY27. If you feel a little overwhelmed by it all, we’ll be breaking down what various market indicators mean for your money, plus what to keep an eye on in the months to come. Tune in to hear how some of the more popular ETFs have performed as of June, and why the Great SpaceX Selloff might be a test run for more trillion-dollar launches to come. OUR CHEAT CODE FOR ETFS: They’re all yours at shesonthemoney.com/download-resources. THE IMPORTANT OF REGULAR INVESTMENTS: Read about the pros of consistent contributions over reactive investing on the blog. Look up ‘regular-contributions’ on the shesonthemoney.com/blog WANT REGULAR MONEY UPDATES? Sign up for SOTM News delivered straight to your inbox via shesonthemoney.com/sotm-newsletter-signup. New here? Follow us on Instagram…

Growing up, home never really felt permanent. Her mum battled addiction, money was always tight, and by the time she was a teenager she'd already experienced more instability than most people do in a lifetime. When her mum passed away unexpectedly, there was no inheritance waiting for her. Just grief, unanswered questions and a decision to create a different future for herself. Today, she's 32, works as a nurse, owns two properties, has just $40,000 left on the mortgage for her home, and is already planning the next investment. But what I loved most about this conversation wasn't the numbers. It was the mindset. We chat about growing up between two completely different worlds, learning that your childhood doesn't have to define your future, the power of financial independence, and why she's determined to build the kind of security she never had growing up. SORT YOUR INSURANCE: A big thank you to our partner Skye Wealth for bringing this episode to life. If you're ready to get your insurances sorted, you can…

Who among us has spotted a friend who was skint? Who among us has *been* that friend? Okay, but what if the situation was more complex, and that friend is also tackling long term mental illness and physical disability? On this week’s episode of Friday Drinks, Victoria, Bec and Jess discuss a spicy Money Dilemma concerning friendships and finances, specifically what happens when you’re financially supporting a friend and their money choices don’t align with your values. They also cover whether economic downturns are a good time to switch supers, and what you might look out for if you’re considering a change. Tune in for the usual Money Wins, Broke Tips and what the team would really want in a dream gift hamper. Spoiler: It’s wholesome af. STRUGGLING WITH DEBT? You aren’t alone and we’ve created a whole playlist to help you out of it at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02sw2NObvt18jd0ayvIHn3?si=EfpDAWlzRkyU0IVaU5elHw SORT OUT YOUR SUPER: Here’s a blog to help you do it. Search for ‘super 101’ on the…

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the financial decisions that are quietly killing your cashflow. Whether it’s a daily $8 iced oat latté or a late night snack that becomes a weekly tradition, it’s time we faced these innocuous transactions that are getting in the way of our money goals. Because while they may only seem like a few dollars here and there, they all add up. On this week’s Deep Dive, Victoria and Bec unpack the psychology behind our sometimes questionable spending behaviours and how we might overcome them to better build our wealth. Because friends don’t let friends make terrible money decisions. BREAK THE BNPL CYCLE: Caught in a Buy Now, Pay Later loop? Break free with our blog on the subject over here. Or visit our shesonthemoney.com/blog and search ‘BNPL’. BACK TO BASICS: Need to rewrite your budget? Here, grab a copy of ours over here and at shesonthemoney.com/download-resources. SHOP AND SAVE? Tune into this playlist that’s all about saving while you shop…

This week's Money Diary is for anyone who's ever felt like their relationship with money was shaped long before they earned their first paycheck. Growing up, money was always part of the conversation in her house. But not in a good way. She watched her mum give up career opportunities, financial independence and choices, while money was treated as something that belonged to someone else. And without realising it, she carried those lessons into adulthood. Spending became freedom. Saving felt impossible. And for years, she bounced between worrying about money and avoiding it altogether. At 31, things look very different. She's earning around $130,000 a year in mining recruitment, has built her savings to $60,000, started investing, and is on track to hit $90,000 in savings by the end of the year. Not because she's perfect with money, but because she finally realised that financial security isn't about restriction. It's about choice. We chat about growing up in a household where money created tension, the…

An inheritance? Slay. Inheriting shares but being prohibited from ever selling them? Err… help? This week, Victoria, Bec and Jess unpack Money Dilemmas and DMs galore. Our first stop: The difference between LICs and ETFs. Plus, a dread many of us know all too well; working at a job that literally sucks the life from you, while dreading the financial implications of leaving. Join us for another episode of Friday Drinks, where the gang covers burnout, pizza dimensions, and what we thought our lives would be like at 30. Like, did you also think you’d own a horse by now? Weird how things work out. WANT OUR ETF CHEAT SHEET? Head on over to our resources page to grab a copy. BRB, TUNING IN FROM THE BAHAMAS: Where are you listening from? Tag us on socials @shesonthemoneyaus BURNOUT IS REAL: If this episode brought up some issues for you, or if you’re looking for resources to support your mental health, please visit beyondblue.org.au/mental-health. New here? Follow us on Instagram (@shesonthemoneyaus) for Q&As,…

So they have a Cartier bracelet, but no emergency fund. Or they own a home… but have a $5k monthly mortgage. What actually makes someone rich versus what makes them wealthy? This Deep Dive goes into some of Victoria and Bec’s earliest money memories to explore their first ideas of wealth and what it meant to be ‘rich’. They discuss clichéd wealth indicators from designer bags and luxury cars to who is allowed to be rich, whether there’s a difference to being wealthy and the realities of the upward comparison effect. This episode is less about ‘what the new rich looks like’ and more about the systemic beliefs we’re raised with versus realisations of what financial security and confidence actually feel like. Tune in for questions concerning acquired wealth, private school and boujee pencil cases. KNOW THYSELF: What’s your money mindset? Get acquainted with our quiz. MASTER YOUR MINDSET: A playlist to help you transform your relationship with money. HIT THE BLOG: Are they wealthy or are they just rich? We…

A few years ago, she thought she had it all figured out. The house. The fiancé. The wedding. The future she'd spent six years building with the person she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. Then, on a random Tuesday morning, she got a text message. He was leaving. Just six months before their wedding. What followed was a blur of heartbreak, a house sale, more than $30,000 in lost wedding deposits, and the very real task of rebuilding a life she never imagined she'd have to start over. But this isn't really a story about what she lost. It's a story about what happened after. Today she's a qualified dietitian, has over $150,000 in savings, a growing investment portfolio, and a level of financial independence she never knew she was capable of. We chat about combining finances in your early twenties, trusting your gut when something feels off, rebuilding after a major breakup, and why sometimes the plans falling apart end up making space for something much better. By the end of this episode, you'll…

POV: You outearn your partner. Should you be contributing more to things like shared costs, savings and goals because your income is higher? Or is there a more equitable way to split things? This week on Friday Drinks, Victoria, Bec and Jess discuss the ins and outs of relationship finances, especially when you have different attitudes towards money. From honest communication to the heavy money stories we carry, the gang explores how to build healthier financial behaviours while upholding the values of your partnership. Oh and we finally learn which of the Powerpuff Girls V, Jess and Bec would be if they could choose. This episode is for you if you ever felt heavy or ashamed for having debt, and want a way to overcome this feeling. Update: This episode was recorded before the Fuel Excise extension was announced. While the initial discount was higher (E.g. Rather than being taxed 52.6 cents/L we were paying 26.3 c/L in tax), we will now be seeing a 16 cent discount and paying 36.6 c/L in tax; saving around…